Families
Orientation
Parents and family members are welcome to join students for orientation. We hope that this section will provide you the resources and information parents and students need during their transition to Miami University.
Traveling with family
If a parent will be accompanying their student to the U.S. for orientation, he or she will need make sure to have the appropriate documentation to do so. Most visitors should apply for a B-2 visitor visa at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in order to enter the U.S. as a tourist. However, individuals from certain countries may be eligible to enter the U.S. on the Visa Waiver Program instead. You can find more information about applying for the B-2 tourist visa at U.S. Department of State.
Hotels
Parents and family members are not permitted to stay in the residence halls with their student during orientation. Oxford has several hotels that can accommodate you during your stay. There is one hotel located on campus called the Marcum Hotel and Conference Center. You can find a full list of hotels, including the Marcum Hotel, at Oxford Visitor Bureau.
FERPA
FERPA stands for the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act. This is a U.S. law that prohibits universities from releasing educational information about students without a prior consent. You can find more information about this law and how it is implemented at Miami at FERPA.
If a parent wants to have access to a student’s educational records, the student will need to complete the FERPA release form and have it notarized.ISSS and other university officials will not be able to discuss issues concerning a student without this release, so it is recommended to complete it if a parent anticipates needing to speak with someone at the university about their student.
Newsletter
Parents are welcome to join our newsletter to stay up to date on important information regarding orientation. Our newsletters go out throughout the months before orientation and contain information about arrival to Oxford, orientation events, and other important information.